Bitter Lies

Frank sat in his hotel room, his head in his hands. He felt he was on a slippery slope. What was he doing here? Who was he kidding? A woman like that would never give him a second glance. A fifty year old man with a paunch. He must be so deluded to even think she would. He looked at his watch for at least the tenth time since he'd arrived here.

He stood up, walked to the bathroom and doused his face with cold water. Feeling a little better he went back into the bedroom and moved to the door that led to the balcony. Opening it, he stepped outside. The cool April air refreshed him, calmed his nerve a little.

"What am I doing here?", he asked himself. Shaking his head, he reflected on the events of last night. Chatting to her online. The beautiful blonde woman who had captured his heart. "What is she going to think when she sees who I really am?"

Frank was a used car salesman. A failed used car salesman. He had made only one sale in the last two months and just got fired. And now here he was kidding himself that a looker like that wouldn't just turn right around and walk away once she'd clocked him. Shaking his head, he walked back into the hotel room.

To distract himself, he flicked on the television, turning to the news channel. He tried to lose himself in the reports but they were the usual crap of murder and mayhem and only made him more depressed.

Finally, he called room service and ordered a double brandy. Maybe a bit of Dutch courage was all he needed. He looked at his watch yet again. She would be here in ten minutes, if she was on time. Frank made a vow to himself there and then never to do this again.

There was a knock on the door and a voice shouted “room service.”

That was quick.

He opened the door, took the drink, and gave the waiter a dollar tip.

Walking back to the bed, he sat and took a long gulp, gasping as the drink burned in his throat. Then the warmth sank to his stomach. God that felt better.

He opened his briefcase and took out the photograph he had printed of the woman he was here to meet. They had been talking to each other for a month before deciding to meet. He had sent a photograph of himself when he was twenty years younger, and much better looking. Her photo showed she was in her thirties, long slim legs that wouldn’t quit. A nice firm bust displayed in a tight t shirt. His mouth watered just looking at her. Why would she even look twice at him? He gulped down the rest of his drink, and then sat there just thinking. Finally he made a decision. He packed away the photograph and left the room. He took the elevator down to the lobby.

Frank rang the bell at the main desk. The receptionist, a pretty brunette, popped up from behind the desk.

“Sorry, I was just rearranging some files. How can I help you?”

“I had a change of plans” he replied. “I guess I won’t be staying for the night. How much do I owe?”

“I’m sorry to hear that” replied the receptionist. “I’ll only charge you half price for the room and for the drink. I’m afraid I won’t be able to do fairer than that.”

“That’s okay, I figured I would have to pay something.”

“Can I ask what the reason is for your early departure?” enquired the receptionist. “Was there a problem with the room?”

“Oh, no, the room was fine. The problem is with me” Frank laughed a little bitterly. “I was just deluding myself about something.”

The receptionist gave him a strange look but accepted his offered credit card and put the charge on it. “There you go” she smiled handing the card back. “Have a nice day.”

“Thanks, you too” he smiled, putting his credit card away. He turned away and barely glanced at the frumpy looking blonde that walked past him on her way to the reception desk.

Sighing to himself, Frank walked out of the hotel to get back to his dull life.

*************************

The receptionist smile brightly at the blonde who looked in her fifties. “Can I help you?”

The woman smiled back. “Yes I’m looking for a Frank Webster. He should be here already.”

The receptionists’ smile faltered. “Oh, I’m afraid you just missed him. He just checked out less than a minute ago.”

The blonde woman thanked her and turned to walk out of the hotel feeling totally deflated. She reflected on the whole scheme. “Who was I kidding” she asked herself. She figured he must have seen the photo she had finally sent him this morning. The one of how she looked now. If only she hadn’t used that 30 year old photograph of her when she first started chatting. He must have seen the new photograph and been totally disappointed and left.

“Boy I was really deluding myself!” she thought as she walked out back to her dull, boring life.

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